Automatic electric circuit changer or switch.



No. 820,119. PATENTED MAY 8, 1906.

T. T. KITT. AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CHANGER 0R SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.15. 1904.

Q1 v w a m FREDERTCK T. KllTT, @F DENVER, CULtlRAIDQ.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented may 8, race.

Application filed February 15, 1904* Serial lilo- 193,6 5?)- To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that l, FREDERICK T. Krr'r, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in an Automatic Electric Circuit Chan er or Switch; and I do hereby declare the tea full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawin s, which form a part of this specification.

- y invention relates to improvements in an automatic electric circuit changer or switch, my object being to provide means whereby a current of electricity can be made to take different paths or distinct circuits maybe alternately opened and closed, as may be desired.

In carrying-out my invention 1 em loy a solenoid having a vertically-disposed p unger the lower part of which is made of magnetic material, preferably soft iron, the upper part of non-ma netic material, preferably brass, so arrange that when a current of electricity is sent through the coil the magnetic part will be drawn into said coil by magnetic induction, which will force the non-magnetic part out at the opposite end of the solenoid.

aid plunger is provided with a cross-arm of conducting material at the lower end and arranged so that when the plunger is in the upper position or drawn into the coil the crossarm or bridge-piece will bridge across or con nect to .ether electrically a certain pair of contactlocks, several pairs of which are se-- cured to a piece of insulating material just below and which forms. the lower end piece of the solenoid-coil. It is also provided with pins or projections at each end, which are arranged to engage stationary parts on each end of said coil. The lower pin or rojection engages the stationary part on the ower end of the coil when the coil is being energized and the plunger being drawn up into said coil, the pin or projection on the upper end coming into engagement with the stationary parts on the upper end of said coil when the current through said coil is broken and the plun er is drawn down by avity. By the pecu 'ar construction of sai stationary parts and the arrangement of said pins or projections the plunger is turned a part of a revolution while it is being drawn up and another part while it is falling. Thus each time the lunger is brought to the upper position the ridge-piece is. 1n a difierent position. The

lowing to be a of the lower stationary part 1*.

cohtact-hloclrs beingproperly arranged, the bridge-piece'will bridge a different pair each time.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction, ll will now proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which is illus-' trated an embodiment thereof.

in the drawings, Figure 1 is a view showing the appliances complete as constructed for handlmg two circuits only, with the eX- ception that only one pair of contact-blocks is shown, it being impossible to show the other pair, as it would obstruct the view of an important part. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of same; Fig. 3, a view of the lower end of the solenoid-coil, showing method of securing the contact-blocks thereto, also an end view Fig. 4 is a view showing how both the stationary parts may be mounted on one end of the coil so that only one pin through the plunger is necessary.

Let the numeral 9 indicate the solenoidcoil roper; 3 3 4 4*, the contact-blocks; 5, the ridge-piece; 6, the non-magnetic, and 2 the magnetic part of the plunger; 7, the upper, and 8 the lower pins through the plunger; 10, a wire composing a part of a circuit; 10", a branch wire connecting together block 3 and 4 11 12, arts of two distinct circuits which are closed y the bridge-piece bridging across 3 3 or 4 4, respectively.

The operation of the device will be better understood if we assume that the coil, Fig. 1, be energized. Theplunger 2 will be drawn up so that the in 8 will come in contact with the art 1 an by means of the inclined face e wi be turned a part of a revolution, so that the bridge-piece will come in contact with the blocks 3 3*, Fig. 3. 0n the coil being denergized the plunger will fall by gravity, the pin 7 will come in contact with inclined face I) on part 1 while the plunger is falling, thus turning the plunger a part of a revolution and far enough so that on the coil being again energized the pin 8 will engage an inclined face 1 to the right of the one engaged before and cause the bridge-piece to connect the blocks 4 4*. These pins go through the plunger and extend an equal ength on each side. Each end of the 1n comes in contact with an inclined face, sa1d inclined faces being cut in airs, one each side of the parts 11, as a c an I) d on art 1, Fig. 1. The part 1 also has inclined aces on its opposite side corresponding to faces e f. It can be seen that if t e pins only extended on one side of the plunger the same result would be accomplished, it being extended on both sides only or convenience and to divide the wear and tear on the ins. It is also noted that pin 7 limits the ownward and pin 8 the upward movement of the plunger. It is evident that parts 1 1 may be arran ed in different positions than here shown. or instance, 1 may be placed directly above the art 1 at the proper distance from each ot er and with their points properly arranged so that only one pm is necessary, it engaging the upper stationary part on the upward movement and the lower one on the downward movement, or they may both be placed at the bottom in a similar manner, as shown in Fig. 4, part 1 corresponding to art 1, Figs. 1 and 2, and art 1 to part 1, igs. 1 and 2. The incline faces may also be made in slightly different ways. The design shown in Fig. 1, however, seems to be the most simple and practical construction.

Having thus described my invention, what ll claim is as follows:

1. In an electromagnetic switch, a solenbid, a sliding core therefor, a contact fastened upon the deener to said core, stationary contacts, a lug projecting from said core, a stationary cam with angular surfaces cooperating with said lug, so combined that upon the energization of the solenoid with the consequent movement of the core the movable contact is given a partial rotary movement to engage a stationary contact.

2. In an electromagnetic switch, a solenoid a' sliding core therefor, a contact fastened to said core, stationary contacts, lugs projecting from said core, angularlyd1sposed stationary cams with angular surfaces, each cam coo crating with one of said lugs, so combined that upon the ener ization of said solenoid the core and mova le contact are partiall rotated because of the engagement of one mg with one of the said cams, and ization of said solenoid the core and movab e contact are given a further partial rotation because of the engagement of another of said lugs with its cooperating cam.

FRED. T. KITT,

l/Vitnesses:

HENRY l -l. NYE, Josnrn 

